Clinical Report: Solving Sleepless Nights With Scleral Lenses

Overview

Revise to explicitly state the mechanisms by which scleral lenses improve both vision and sleep quality.

Background

Chronic insomnia can severely impact a patient's quality of life and may be associated with underlying ocular conditions. This case illustrates the connection between ocular surface disease and sleep disturbances, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and treating these conditions. Scleral lenses represent a therapeutic option that can address both visual impairment and associated symptoms.

Data Highlights

No numerical data available in the article.

Key Findings

• The patient experienced ghosted vision and chronic insomnia, averaging only 3-4 hours of sleep despite medication.
• Diagnosis included neurotrophic keratopathy and limbal stem cell fatigue due to chronic exposure.
• Fitting with scleral lenses led to normalization of vision and corneal topography within 3 months.
• Combined therapy with scleral lenses and nighttime lubrication significantly improved the patient's quality of life.
• Nocturnal lagophthalmos was identified as a contributing factor to her insomnia.

Clinical Implications

Healthcare professionals should consider the potential link between ocular surface conditions and sleep disturbances in patients. Scleral lenses may provide a dual benefit of improving ocular health and alleviating sleep-related issues, warranting their consideration in similar cases.

Conclusion

This case underscores the importance of addressing ocular surface disease in patients with chronic insomnia. Scleral lenses can be a valuable intervention for improving both vision and sleep quality.

References

1. Mary J. Avisado, OD, Contact Lens Spectrum, 2023 -- Solving Sleepless Nights With Scleral Lenses
2. Contact Lens Spectrum — The Scleral Lens Vault: Overnight Scleral Lenses
3. optometric management — The first steps in scleral lens prescribing
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6. The first steps in scleral lens prescribing
7. Dry Eye Dx and Tx
8. Dry Eye Syndrome Preferred Practice Pattern®
9. Visual and ocular surface benefits of mini-scleral contact lenses in patients with chronic ocular graft-versus-host disease (GvHD)
10. Association between sleep quality and dry eye disease: a literature review and meta-analysis